Fruit-picker.



PATENTED MAR. 20; 1906.-

O. L. UTHUS.

FRUIT PIUKER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 9, 1905.

" Attorneys UNITED srA rns P TENT orrron CHARLES L. UTHUS, 0F HARVARD, 'lLLnvors.

FRUIT- PlCKER.

No. 815,660. i

To'alll whom it may concern: 1

Be it known that 1, CHARLES L. UTHUs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Harvard, in the county of McHenry and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Fruit Picker, of which the'following is a specification. g

This invention relates to fruit-pickers, and has for its object to improve the construction and increase the efficiency of devices of this character.

- With these and other objects inview, which will appear as the nature of'the invention is better understood, the same consists in cor device. Fig. 4 is a view of one of the receptacle-distending arms detached.

The improved device comprisestwo guideways 10 11, spaced apart and connected at one sideby an outwardly-extending curved rod 12 and connected at the other side by two vertically-curving arms 13 14, the latter in turn connected at their lower ends to a han dle member15, the downwardly curving arms forming adepression between the inner ends of the guideways at one side, as shown.

Attached, as by tacks or similar means 16, to the three outer sides of the guideways is a receptacle 17, of canvas or other suitable fabric, the receptacle formed to embrace the rod 12 and arms-13 14 and sewed or otherwise secured around them. Bythis arrangement a depression is formed in one side of the receptacle to facilitate the placing of the re- 1 ceptacle beneath the fruit to be plucked, as

, the hollow sides presented to the guideways,

with a cutting blade 20 upon one of the blocks for bearing against the other block when the two blocks are moved toward each other, and thus severing the stem ofthe fruit Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 9,1905. Serial No. 264,510,

Patented March 20, 1906.

disposed between them, as hereinafter explained. Springs 21 22 are connected, respectively, to the guideways 1O 11' and the blocks 18 19 and exerting their force tomaintain the blocks yieldably at the outer ends of the guideways or'with their adjacent ends sepa-' rated and atopposite sides of the space between the guideways. Draw-cords 23 24 are connected, respectively, to the blocks 18 19 and lead inwardly and downwardly and unite fat'25 and lead-thence to a point convenient to'the hand of the operator holding the device by its handle. Guard-straps 33 34 are connected to the guideways' 1O 11 and extended over the blocks 18 19 to support them in position and prevent displacement when operated.

The handle member 15 is provided with an extension 26, slidable longitudinally thereon, the member 15 having a collar 27 fast thereon and embracing the extension 26 and the member 26'having a collar 28 fast thereon and embracing the handle 15, the collar 27.

also having a clamp-screw 29 and the handle member having a hand -grip 30. By this means it is obvious thatthe extension member may be adjusted; to any required extent to provide for. any length of handle within the range of the two members 15 and 26;

The member 26is. formed with a rib 3.1, and the'member 15 is provided with acorresponding channel 32 to increase the stability of the connection between the parts. By this simple arrangement the fruit maybe quickly plucked and dropped into the recep-. tacle 17 "by passing the open space formed by the arms13 14 and spaced guideways "10 11 over the fruit with the cutter 2O opposite'the stem and then pulling downward upon the draw-cords to cause the blocks 18 19 to move inwardly and sever the stem. The fruit is thus saved from injury or from being bruised by falling or coming in contact with hard substances. v

The device is simple in construction, can be inexpensively manufactured, and will op- 'erate effectually for the purposes described.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is a a 1. In a fruit-picker, a supporting-frame having guideways spaced apart and disposed in alinement longitudinally of the frame, a receptacle suspended from said frame, blocks slidable in the guideways, a cutting-bladecarried by one of the blocks, and means to simul-' taneously move the blocks toward and away from each other to cause said blade to sever the stems of fruit underneath which said receptacle is placed.

2. In a fruit-picker, a receptacle, blocks disposed for movement in longitudinal alinement above said receptacle, one of said blocks having a cutting-blade, and means for simultaneously moving said blocks toward and away from each other.

3. In a fruit-picker, a supporting-frame having guideways spaced apart and disposed in alinement longitudinally of the frame and with a depression in said frame between said guideways, a receptacle suspended from said frame and with a depression corresponding to the depression in said frame, blocks slidable in said guideways, a cutting-blade carried by one of the blocks, and means for simultaneously moving the blocks toward and away from each other.

4. In a fruit-picker, a supporting-frame having guideways spaced apart and disposed in alinement longitudinally of the frame, a handle having outwardly and upwardly eX tending arms connected respectively to said uideways and forming the supportingf rame thereto, blocks slidable in said guideways, a cutting-blade carried by one of the blocks, and means for simultaneously moving the blocks toward and away from each other;

5. In a fruitpicker, a supporting-frame having guideways spaced apart and disposed in alinement longitudinally of the frame, a handle having outwardly and upwardly eX- tending arms connected respectively to said guideways and forming the supportingframe thereto, an outwardly-curving bar connecting the guide members at the other side,

blocks slidable in said guideways, a cutting-.

blade carried by one of the blocks, and means for simultaneously moving the blocks toward and away from each other.

6. In a fruit-picker, a supporting-frame having guideways spaced apart and disposed in alinement longitudinally of the frame, a receptacle suspended from said frame, blocks slidable in said guideways, a cutting-blade carried by one of the blocks, springs connected to maintain said blocks yieldably in withdrawn position, and means for simultaneously moving said blocks into engagement.

7. In a fruit-picker, a supporting-frame having guideways spaced apart and disposed. in alinement longitudinally of the frame, a receptacle suspended from said frame, blocks slidable in said guideways, a cutting-blade carried by one of the blocks springs connected to maintain said blocks yieldably in withdrawn position, guard-straps connected to said guide members and bearing over said blocks, and means for simultaneously moving said blocks into engagement.

8. In a fruit-picker, a supporting-frame having guideways spaced apart and disposed in alinement longitudinally of the frame, a receptacle suspended from said frame, a handle connected to said frame, hollow blocks slidably arranged in said guideways with their open sides presented to the same, a cutting-blade carried by one of the blocks, springs within said blocks and connected at one end to the blocks and at the other end to the guideways, and draw cords connected respectively to said blocks and leading inwardly therefrom and thence to a point on said handle convenient to the hand of the operator.

9. A fruit picker comprising a handle, spaced guideways carried by the handle and disposed transversely thereof, slides working in the guideways, a cutting-blade carried by one of the slides, and means to move the slides toward and away from one another.

10. A fruit-picker comprising a handle, a pair of spaced guideways carried by the handle transversely of the same and offset at one side of said handle, a receptacle hung from the guideways and open throughout its top, slides working in the guideways, a cuttingblade carried by one of the slides, and means for moving the slides toward and away from one another.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES L. UTHUS.

Witnesses:

O. JOSEPH KELLY,

CHARLES E. MoGHrE. 

